Trade rumor rankings: LeBron James, Kevin Durant and more
The NBA trade market exploded over the weekend, both with the shocking Luka Doncic for Anthony Davis trade, the first in league history involving two reigning All-NBA players to take place midseason, followed by the mega-deal that saw De'Aaron Fox end up with the San Antonio Spurs and Zach LaVine with the Sacramento Kings.
Moves of that caliber have led many to believe we could be in line for another surprise or two before Thursday's NBA trade deadline.
Below, check out the 10 players who have appeared most often in trade rumors over the previous week (without actually being moved), with some of the biggest names in the NBA today involved.
10. Guerschon Yabusele
In his first season back in the NBA, French swingman Guerschon Yabusele has looked right at home, averaging 11.0 points, 5.5 rebounds and 2.0 assists while shooting over 40 percent from three, excellent marks all around for a role player.
Between Yabusele (on a minimum salary) performing so well and the Philadelphia 76ers being a disappointing 19-29 at this point in the campaign, that has led to a lot of interest in the 29-year-old on the trade market.
According to our own Michael Scotto, Yabusele has drawn interest from the Boston Celtics, New York Knicks and Denver Nuggets. Marc Stein then added the Minnesota Timberwolves as an interested party for Yabusele's services. Ian Begley said that although the Knicks are interested, the Sixers aren't necessarily looking to move the French wing.
From his end, Yabusele says he's not focused on getting traded but looking to help Philadelphia make a push toward the playoffs.
For the latest Guerschon Yabusele trade rumors and salary info, click here.
9. Bogdan Bogdanovic
Serbian 2-guard Bogdan Bogdanovic is having a tough season, averaging just 10.0 points per game, a career-low mark, and shooting a paltry 30.1 percent from three. With two years after this season, and a team option on his contract for 2026-27 when he'll be owed $16.0 million, that has led to trade speculation surrounding the Atlanta Hawks player.
According to Scotto, the Phoenix Suns and Miami Heat, among other teams, ar interested in Bogdanovic, and that there's a growing sense around the NBA that Bogdanovic could be traded by the deadline. That report came after Stein's from earlier in the week, which said that Atlanta is exploring the trade market for Bogdanovic. Stein's colleague, Jake Fischer, added that the Hawks are getting more confident that they'll have multiple potential landing spots for the sharpshooting specialist.
We'll find out soon enough whether that's true or not.
For the latest Bogdan Bogdanovic trade rumors and salary info, click here.
8. Jusuf Nurkic
Out of the Suns' rotation and pretty much just waiting to find out if he's getting traded or not, big man Jusuf Nurkic continues to see his name pop up in trade fodder.
After the Suns traded one of their first-round picks to Utah for three back in return, ESPN reported that league sources expect Phoenix to use at least one of those picks to entice a team to trade for Nurkic. Our own Scotto expounded that the Suns could look to move Nurkic plus a pick to Atlanta for Bogdanovic:
For the latest Jusuf Nurkic trade rumors and salary info, click here.
7. John Collins
It's interesting how quickly things can change regarding an NBA player's trade value. Just a year ago, power forward John Collins was thought of as a toxic trade asset due to his poor recent production and his somewhat high salary.
Now, Collins looks valuable again, as his play has picked up this season – the Wake Forest product is averaging 18.1 points, 8.3 rebounds, 1.0 steals and 1.0 blocks while shooting 45.5 percent from three in 2024-25 – which has led to his name becoming popular in trade scuttle once more.
Prior to the Fox trade, there was a lot of talk connecting Collins with the Kings:
There’s one week until the NBA’s trade deadline, but rumors around the NBA are already heating up. In particular, there’s been significant reporting around Utah Jazz forward John Collins and a potential move to the Sacramento Kings. Sacramento beat writer and radio host James Ham gave the following report on his show The Insiders on Sacramento’s ESPN1320: “I know [the Kings] had a deal worked out for somebody a week ago, and they went and told their players … and then they didn’t do it.” Ham was later asked if the proposed deal was for Collins — to which he said yes.
Collins discussed those rumors himself with the media:
At the Jazz’s morning shootaround before their game against the Minnesota Timberwolves on Thursday, Collins discussed the trade rumors. The veteran forward said he had not been informed of any deal involving the Kings. “I saw some rumors, but I definitely didn’t hear that,” he said. “Whatever Sacramento is doing, that’s, you know, their prerogative, if it involves me or not. Obviously, I would have found out,” he continued. “But I’m kind of happy I just didn’t have that news — sorry, nothing against Sacramento — just kind of happy I didn’t have that news hit my phone. I’ve just got to continue to be the best professional I can be and continue playing basketball.”
We'll see if Sacramento is done dealing for now or if it might now pivot to trying to add more frontcourt help for Domantas Sabonis, perhaps in the form of Collins.
For the latest John Collins trade rumors and salary info, click here.
6. LeBron James
Following the shocking Doncic trade, some began to wonder what that might mean for the future of four-time league MVP LeBron James, as he and Doncic are pretty similar players – both being ball-dominant, playmaking, high-scoring superstars.
Could the Doncic move have been a precursor to a blockbuster James trade?
That does not appear to be the case, as Shams Charania reported yesterday that the Lakers want James to be a mentor for Doncic, and do not plan on trading him.
Fischer reported yesterday that one team has shown a lot of interest in trying to get James to break his no-trade clause, with that team being the Golden State Warriors. The Warriors apparently are desperate for a trade to find an elite player to pair with their own franchise icon, Stephen Curry, and have called multiple teams on just about every single All-Star out there, according to Charania.
Per Fischer, the Warriors' dreams are so lofty that they're even trying to figure out a way to land both James and the player coming out at No. 2 on this list while noting that James has shown no indication of wanting to waive his no-trade clause:
Sources say the most ambitious idea being tossed around among Golden State’s decision-makers: Is there any feasible pathway for the Warriors to pull off the dreamiest of outcomes and find a way to bring both LeBron James and Durant to The Bay? ... As of this writing, LeBron James has shown no indication that he is willing to waive his no-trade during this season, league sources told The Stein Line. However … There are certainly teams — Golden State chief among them, sources said — that have inquired whether that stance could change between now and Thursday’s trade deadline.
For what it's worth, the Lakers reportedly are not worried that James will ask for a trade. Chris Haynes also reported that James intends to remain in Los Angeles through the trade deadline.
So for now, it doesn't look like James will be going anywhere, but after the Doncic trade, can we really be confident that there isn't another huge surprise on the way?
For the latest LeBron James trade rumors and salary info, click here.
5. Brandon Ingram
New Orleans Pelicans swingman Brandon Ingram hasn't seen action in nearly two months now but that hasn't stopped his name from getting mentioned in various trade rumors of late, which makes sense considering wings with his blend of size, skill and three-level scoring don't grown on trees.
Two teams that were mentioned today as potential Ingram suitors are the Warriors and Hawks, according to the Stein Substack. The same outlet reported earlier in the week that the Toronto Raptors could be a team to watch for Ingram. Stein's Substack also mentioned the possibility of an Ingram deal to the Heat as part of a larger deal for the player who finished No. 1 on this list:
A new team has emerged as a potential trade suitor for Jimmy Butler. The New Orleans Pelicans have this week registered interest in trading for Butler, league sources tell The Stein Line. The extent of New Orleans’ interest was not immediately clear, but sources say that a firm offer from the Pelicans would be built around the $36 million expiring contract of Brandon Ingram.
With that said, the possibility of that happening has looked to dwindle as the week has progressed.
One Raptors local reporter said that he wouldn't read too much into the possibility of Ingram landing north of the border:
For the latest Brandon Ingram trade rumors and salary info, click here.
4. Nikola Vucevic
Productive big man Nikola Vucevic remains a popular name in trade rumors.
One team that continues to be tied to him is the frontcourt-needy Warriors (via the Chicago Sun-Times):
Golden State could use a stretch five and the Sun-Times has confirmed that the Warriors remain a possibility after they try and make a big splash first whether it’s Kevin Durant or Jimmy Butler. The Lakers are suddenly a possibility, but would rather try hitting on a defensive center first in the wake of landing Luka Doncic and losing Anthony Davis.
According to Stein, the Warriors looked into adding both Vucevic and LaVine but opted to pursue other interests:
Vucevic himself discussed his future, saying that he'd like to be in a win-now situation:
Nikola Vucevic knows the signs of when a team and a player are headed in opposite directions. It’s happening in Chicago. The Bulls are building toward the long-term future, eyeing draft picks and shopping their top talent in the process. This pivot is hardly unexpected after a failed attempt to build their roster into an Eastern Conference contender officially ended with the departure of DeMar DeRozan. But in the 14th year of his NBA career, Vučević knows exactly what he wants — and it isn’t another rebuild. “I’m getting closer to the end of my career,” Vučević told the Tribune. “I would like to be somewhere that’s in win-now mode.”
For the latest Nikola Vucevic trade rumors and salary info, click here.
3. Bradley Beal
We're stuck between a rock and a hard place with regard to a Bradley Beal trade, with the same stuff being reported over and over again on this front.
The Suns would likely love to trade him, especially if it meant landing the No. 1 player on this list, but Beal has a no-trade clause and the Heat reportedly aren't interested in taking on his salary, which will pay him $57.1 million in 2026-27 (via the New York Times):
But Beal owns a no-trade clause, which enables him to veto any deal, a power he is willing to wield. His first priority is his family, according to a source familiar with his thinking. Beal, his wife and two kids moved from Washington to Los Angeles and then full-time to Phoenix all in the past couple of years. A trade would mean either uprooting his two sons once again or leaving them to play elsewhere. Beal is willing to waive his no-trade clause, the source said, but the list is not long. He would need to go to a winning team that is also in an appealing city. Cold weather has never been his favorite, though he would make exceptions if the basketball situation were appealing enough.
ESPN reported earlier in the week that Miami remains opposed to taking on Beal's contract, even despite being more desperate to trade their own disgruntled star:
While sources said Miami is willing to take players with future money on their contracts in a trade, making the narrow window for Butler to get his wish and get traded a little wider, that doesn’t include accepting Bradley Beal, sources told me. Beal’s contract has two seasons and more than $110 million after this one, which is still the sticking point of any Miami-Phoenix discussions.
We'll just have to wait and see if the Suns are able to pull off the seemingly impossible and find a new home for Beal – that isn't Miami – and come up with a trade offer that the Heat deem acceptable.
For the latest Bradley Beal trade rumors and salary info, click here.
2. Kevin Durant
With the Suns remaining as mediocre as ever this season, sitting at 25-24 record at the time of this writing, and Beal looking unwilling to waive his no-trade clause, that may be shifting the thinking in Phoenix, with the Suns now reportedly at least listening to Kevin Durant trade offers.
According to Chris Mannix, rival execs believe Phoenix is strongly considering Durant trades before the deadline.
As was mentioned in LeBron James section, the Warriors reportedly hold the lofty dream of reuniting Durant with Curry in Golden State, but with James as their super third teammate:
Sources say the most ambitious idea being tossed around among Golden State’s decision-makers: Is there any feasible pathway for the Warriors to pull off the dreamiest of outcomes and find a way to bring both LeBron James and Durant to The Bay?
Stein's Substack also reported on the Suns listening to trade offers for Durant yesterday, although while adding that the Suns do not plan to move the former league MVP by the deadline:
The path to Durant alone does seem plausible. Phoenix, entering Monday’s business, continued to signal that it does not plan to move Kevin Durant before the deadline, sources said, but the Suns are believed to be listening at the very least to various teams’ pitches for the 35-year-old scoring legend. Durant, meanwhile, is said to be aware of all this.
Dallas reportedly is not pursuing Durant, however, nor are they pursuing the next player coming up on this list.
Regardless, even with Phoenix signaling they don't plan to trade Durant, after the Doncic trade, nothing can be ruled out.
For the latest Kevin Durant trade rumors and salary info, click here.
1. Jimmy Butler
With the Jimmy Butler saga getting reported on basically hourly at this point, we're just going to bullet out the latest on the matter.
Long story short, the Heat would likely be love to be done with this drama by now but Butler is making it difficult by shutting down possible landing spots in order to get where he wants to go: Phoenix:
Brian Windhorst reported that Butler has blocked trade options that would be good fits, where he would have gotten paid, in an effort to land with the Suns.
The same report said that the Heat could abandon the Suns' pursuit and move Butler elsewhere, like Golden State.
The New York Times also reported that the Warriors remain firmly in the mix for Butler, even despite Butler reportedly telling Golden State he would not sign an extension there, which seemed to end trade talks between the Heat and Warriors momentarily.
Talks between the Grizzlies and Heat for Butler didn't go far as Memphis was reluctant to part with young pieces to get the disgruntled star.
Kevin Garnett went off on Butler, saying that his behavior is the type of thing that could get non-guaranteed contracts into the NBA eventually, which would be a bad thing for every player.
It'll be fascinating to see what happens if the Heat isn't able to trade Butler by Thursday's deadline. Might the NBA step in at some point if Butler continues to try and force his way to Phoenix?
Stay tuned.
For the latest Jimmy Butler trade rumors and salary info, click here.
This article originally appeared on Hoops Hype: Trade rumor rankings: LeBron James, Kevin Durant and more
